Policy to incentivise residential workforces

For more information, contact Dave Grills Grills (Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region).

The Nationals WA will provide 100 per cent tax relief rebate for residential workers in designated mining communities if returned to Government at the State election.

Announced recently by The Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls MLA, The Nationals’ ‘Live where you work’ policy will see employers that utilise a residential workforce rewarded by providing a payroll tax exemption on new and existing employees.

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Dave Grills MLC said The Nationals were passionate about the development of regional WA and strongly welcomed the announcement.

"Through our flagship Royalties for Regions policy we have invested more than $6.9 billion into more than 3,700 projects across regional WA to grow vibrant communities where people aspire to live and work," Mr Grills said.

"Although it hasn’t always been popular in the city, we have taken a strong position against the use of Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) operational workforces during our time in Government as we believe the practice undermines the long-term viability of regional communities.

"We have sought to transition FIFO workers to residential living in established towns by supporting the closure of Kurra Village in Newman and Gap Ridge in Karratha."

Mr Grills said the rebate would also be available to businesses that can verify they have an eligible employee who has resided in accepted housing for a period of 12 months.

"While there is a place for FIFO work practices, particularly on remote resource projects where residential workforces are not practical, The Nationals WA are working hard to encourage the development of mining towns into liveable and sustainable communities," Mr Grills said.

"Given that property prices in mining communities have normalised and government services have been improved through Royalties for Regions, now is the opportune time for a policy framework to encourage the use of residential workforces.

"Communities, businesses and Local Government have also embraced our vision for the regions and agree that residential workforces delivers better results for towns in regions like the Pilbara, Goldfields, Mid West and Kimberley."

Mr Grills said the ‘Live where you work’ policy would complement The Nationals’ commitment to exempt all businesses with payroll tax of less than $5 million from paying the tax for two years.